Buckeyes dash Spartans' hopes

Sunday

Feb 24, 2013 at 8:08 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Aaron Craft slashed through the lane for a career-high 21 points on Sunday to lead No. 18 Ohio State (20-7, 10-5 Big Ten) to a 68-60 victory over fourth-ranked Michigan State (22-6, 11-4).

The loss crippled the Spartans' hopes of catching up with top-ranked Indiana, which now leads the Big Ten race by two full games with four remaining.

In Ann Arbor, Mich., Trey Burke set up teammates to score and made a shot of his own in a pivotal stretch to help Michigan pull away to beat Illinois.

The Wolverines (23-4, 10-4 Big Ten) shook off a sluggish first half with a strong second half to win consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month.

The Fighting Illini (20-9, 7-8) had won five in a row - a streak that started Feb. 7 by beating top-ranked Indiana.

NO. 20 PITTSBURGH 63,

ST. JOHN'S 47

In New York, Tray Woodall scored a season-high 25 points, including two huge 3-pointers in the second half, and No. 20 Pittsburgh (21-7, 9-6 Big East) snapped a two-game losing streak with a victory over St. John's (16-11, 8-7) at Madison Square Garden.